- Ministry of Trade and Industry

CREATIVE
Industry
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S
W W W . T R A D E I N D . G O V . T T
BACKGROUND
In this new global economy based on innovation, the Government of the Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago has acknowledged that creativity now drives global
competitiveness. This appears to be more evident as the Creative Industry is
increasingly becoming a significant part of the economy of Trinidad and Tobago. In
an effort to leverage this growing trend the National Policy Framework in respect
of attaining sustainable growth and diversification of the economy has identified
the Creative Industry as one of the areas targeted for development.
The Government’s interest in the Creative Industry derives from the obvious need
for the country to diversify its economy away from an over-dependence on
revenues generated from the petrochemical sector. The volatility of the
commodity and services sectors in light of the recent global recession has also
served to underscore the urgency diversification must take place. The Creative
Industry presents itself as one of the potential areas to hinge future efforts of
sustainable development.
The Creative Industry cluster comprises the following eight (8) subsectors/niche
areas:
MUSIC
FILM
FASHION
BROADCASTING
LITERATURE AND
PUBLISHING
HERITAGE
1
DANCE & THEATRE
INCLUDING VISUAL AND
PERFORMING ARTS
FESTIVALS
INCLUDING CARNIVAL
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has been charged with the development
of the Film, Fashion and Music subsectors in an effort to increase their financial
contribution to the economy.
FASHION INDUSTRY
The Fashion Industry is grouped into four (4) broad areas that are currently active
and form the core of the local industry.
1. Fashion Apparel - refers to garments worn with fashion and style in mind. It
speaks more to the design and beauty.
2. Functional Apparel - refers to garments designed for a specific function
e.g. uniforms, safety clothing etc.
3. Accessories - refers to items that can be used to accentuate the fashion
garment. It includes items such as jewellery, hats, purses/bags, shoes, scarves etc.
4. Support - organizations within the Supply Segments of the fashion value chain
(provision of raw materials, textiles, equipment etc.) and Distribution (Branding,
Marketing, Model Management, Merchandising etc.)
In 2014 the local Fashion Industry consisted of 210 companies which employed over
1465 persons and generated in excess of TT$266,350,000.
2
MUSIC INDUSTRY
The Music Industry of Trinidad and Tobago is ever-evolving and it is now ready for
purposeful and sustainable plugs in the right direction. While there is still a mindset
that local music consists only native genres (calypso, soca, rapso, chutney, pan
music and the like), there is now a new, persistent paradigm that local music can be
a song of any genre, once it is birthed in the heart and mind of a Trinbagonian. As
such, the emergence of strong footholds in local pop, jazz, hip hop, RnB and other
globally trending genres has revolutionized the horizon Trinidad and Tobago’s
Music Industry now looks toward.
Following in the footsteps of such greats as the Mighty Sparrow, Kitchener and
Calypso Rose, some artistes such as Machel Montano, Kes the Band, Bunji Garlin,
Positive, Jointpop, Orange Sky and other Trinidadian artistes are making
significant inroads to achieving international recognition and success for their
respective genres. Trinidadians such as Nicki Minaj and Trinidad James are also
being featured in the international forum and receiving media coverage which all
helps to promote the country’s brand of Music.
According to one study undertaken by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment
and Communications in 2004, the Music Industry which has been classified as a
subsector of the Creative Industry is estimated to generate TT$169,000,000.00
annually and employs some 5,600 persons.
3
FILM INDUSTRY
Products of the local film sector includes feature films, documentaries, music
videos, television dramas and sit-coms, entertainment programs,
commercials, corporate productions and educational programs. As of
November 2014, Trinidad and Tobago film industry consisted of: forty-five
production companies, eight (8) post production houses and three (3)
distribution companies; and seven (7) television stations. During the period
2007-2016, Trinidad and Tobago earned revenues of approximately
$37,000,000 from eleven (11) film crews shooting on location.
In an effort to increase the development of local film content and the
production of films on location in Trinidad and Tobago, the Government has
implemented a range of financial incentives over the past decade. One such
incentive is the Production Expenditure Rebate Programme. The programme
offers a cash incentive to national and international producers for expenditure
incurred while filming in Trinidad and Tobago. The rebate includes payments
on the rental of local equipment and supplies, accommodation and
transportation services, wardrobe, props and set dressing services, location
fees, local cast and crew hire, craft services and local travel. These incentives
have achieved a limited amount of success as a result of issues related to the
administration of these measures. There is therefore significant room for
improvement.
The MTI has therefore adopted a two pronged approach to develop the local
Creative Industry. Firstly, it has mandated the Trinidad and Tobago Creative
Industries Company (CreativeTT) to stimulate and facilitate the business and
export development of the Film, Fashion and Music Industries in Trinidad and
Tobago to generate national wealth.
4
Secondly the MTI is actively strengthening the legislative and regulatory
framework through the development of policies geared toward the creation of an
enabling environment where the Creative Industry can thrive.
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES COMPANY LIMITED (CreativeTT)
The Trinidad and Tobago Creative Industries Company Limited (CreativeTT) is a
state enterprise under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and is responsible for
stimulating and facilitating the business and export development of the Film,
Fashion and Music Industries in Trinidad and Tobago to generate national wealth.
CreativeTT supports the development of the industries through its subsidiary
companies, MusicTT, FilmTT and FashionTT.
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FASHION COMPANY
LIMITED (FashionTT)
FashionTT is charged with aggressively driving the development and
commercialization of the local Fashion Industry on a local, regional and
international level. This is in keeping with Trinidad and Tobago’s thrust in respect of
attaining sustainable growth and diversification of the economy.
FashionTT is working toward strategically branding the developments of the local
industry, which will increase its local, regional and international visibility and
consumption.
5
Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago can benefit from the services of
FashionTT through programmes that encourage:
• Business related capacity development
• Fashion business export facilitation
• Promotion of Trinidad and Tobago’s fashion, international and
regionally
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO MUSIC
COMPANY LIMITED (MusicTT)
MusicTT exists to strengthen the capacity of the local music industry in
T&T as well as to explore avenues for business and trade by a
commercially-viable music subsector.
As such, MusicTT focuses generally on accomplishing the following
within the local music industry:
• Assisting with understanding and developing the business and finance
of music;
• Providing industry-wide collective direction and support;
• Supporting the development of selected music subsectors to
international standards;
• Promoting the market and championing various music art forms to the
global stage;
• Performing activities to ensure the sustainability of Trinidad and
Tobago musical art form.
6
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FILM COMPANY
LIMITED (FilmTT)
FilmTT supports both its core and peripheral stakeholders by engaging in the
following:
• Functioning as the Film Commission of Trinidad & Tobago;
• Administering the Trinidad and Tobago production incentive rebate (Up to 35%
rebate for filming on location in Trinidad and Tobago);
• Administering equity and grant funds to support the development, production
and distribution of indigenous film and television properties;
• Supporting the development of creative capacity in the sector by providing
development opportunities to all stakeholders via workshops, bursaries and
competitive learning opportunities.
FilmTT also provides support to the T&T film festival community as well as engages
in outreach activities with stakeholder organizations, vendors, institutional
financiers and government agencies and international distributors.
CREATION OF AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
The MTI acknowledges that the rapid changes taking place in the global energy
markets mandates that a more strategic approach is adopted if we are to depend
on the Creative Industry as a major source of revenue in the near future.
The MTI is therefore undertaking strategic planning and fore sighting initiatives
which will determine the economic potential of the Film, Fashion and Music
subsectors as well as identify the gaps that prevent these subsectors from realizing
this potential. Once these gaps have been identified the MTI will be outfitted with
the intelligence required to make informed national policy decisions regarding the
Creative Industry.
7
INCENTIVES
Quite a number of countries have applied various tools and incentives to foster growth
and development in their Creative Industries. Some of the incentives offered by the
Government geared toward the development of the Creative Industry include:
Production Expenditure Rebate Programme
The Production Expenditure Rebate Programme which was first introduced in 2006
provides a cash rebate to local and foreign film producers for production expenditure
incurred whilst filming in Trinidad and Tobago. This programme was designed to make
filming on location in Trinidad and Tobago more attractive and to encourage persons
to invest in film making. The rebate includes refunds for local services related to the
rental of local equipment, accommodation, transportation, police, fire and ambulance
services, local travel, location fees and local cast and crew.
The Production Expenditure Rebate Programme currently offers a tiered system of
12.5% to 35% rebate on an initial expenditure from TT$630,000.00 up to a maximum
of TT$51,200,000.00 for foreign production companies filming on location in Trinidad
and Tobago. However, for local film producers the programme offers a 35% rebate for
expenditure from TT$100,000.00 up to a maximum of TT$51,200,000.00. An
additional rebate of 20% is granted on the labour cost incurred in the hiring of local
labour (i.e. citizens of Trinidad and Tobago) for a film production.
Import Duty Concessions for the Importation of equipment for Motion Picture
Production
Import duty concessions are granted on machinery, equipment and materials under
the Third Schedule of the Customs Act Section 1, Item 73, which provides for
“machinery, equipment and materials for the production of motion pictures” in
Trinidad and Tobago.
Remission of VAT and Duty on the temporary importation of film production
equipment
Film producers who import film equipment temporarily into Trinidad and Tobago for
production purposes are required to post a Customs Bond which is refunded when the
equipment leaves the country.
8
Provision exists for the remission of Customs Duty under Section 9(1) of the
Customs Act, Chapter 78:01 which states that ‘the President may, upon
application by the importer or exporter remit or refund in whole or in part any
Customs Duty whenever he shall deem it expedient to do so’.
Under Section 44(b) of the Value Added Tax Act 1989, goods that are imported
for temporary use shall not be charged Value Added Tax on entry, except where
such goods cannot reasonably exported within three months or, that the goods
are liable to Customs Duty.
Section 55(2) of the Value Added Tax Act states, inter alia, that Section 124 of the
Income Tax Act shall apply to the administration of this Act and the collection and
recovery of any amount payable, as if that amount were payable under that Act.
Section 124 of the Income Tax Act states that the President may remit or refund
in whole or in part the tax payable or paid as the case may be by any person if he
is satisfied that it would be just and equitable to do so.
Cultural Tax Allowance
A company that sponsors audio, visual or video productions for the purposes of
local education or local entertainment or reflecting local culture for radio or
television, are allowed as a deduction, in ascertaining the chargeable profits of
the company for that year of income, an allowance of 150% of the actual
expenditure incurred in respect of such productions up to a maximum of three
million dollars.
contact
CreativeTT:
Nisha Ramkissoon
Marketing and Communications Manager
nisha.ramkissoon@creative.co.tt
MusicTT:
Jeanelle Frontin
MusicTT General Manager
Jeanelle.frontin@musictt.co.tt
FilmTT:
WEB PRESENCE
CreativeTT:
Blog - http://creative.co.tt/wordpress/
Social Media – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube
and Twitter
MusicTT:
Social Media – Facebook, LinkedIn,
YouTube, Instagram and Twitter
Jamil Agard
FilmTT General Manager (Ag.)
jagard@ttfc.co.tt
FilmTT:
FashionTT:
FashionTT:
Lisa-Marie Daniel
FashionTT General Manager
Lisa.daniel@fashiontt.co.tt
Social Media – Facebook, LinkedIn and
YouTube
Social Media – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube
and Instagram
Ministry of Trade and Industry:
Mario Romany
Industry Specialist
Romanyma@gov.tt
All companies, except FilmTT, were established in 2013 but began
operations in 2014. FilmTT, formerly TTFC, was established in 2006.
Ministry of Trade and Industry,
Levels 9 & 11-17 Nicholas Tower
63-65 Independence Square, Port of Spain
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
PBX: (868) 623-2931-4 Fax: (868) 627-8488
Email : mti-info@gov.tt
www.tradeind.gov.tt